Team
Coach Matt Logan
Camp Director
Coach Logan is going into his 2nd year as the Director of Track and Field/Cross Country at Young Harris College. Coach Logan has coached at the Div. I, Div. II, Div. III, and the high school level. He believes in a science backed and relational approach to coaching. He believes that cross country and track are team sports disguised as individual sports, and running for the love of your teammates and community is the key to staying disciplined in training and a runner’s willingness to suffer on race day. His experience at multiple levels has allowed him to focus on his athlete’s long-term individual development.
Coach Logan has his USATF Level II Endurance Certification as well as his USTFCCCA Strength and Endurance Certification.
He was an all-state high school runner and part of a team championship at Dixon High School. He ran collegiately at DePaul University and Olivet Nazarene University. He started coaching while in grad. school at Duke University at Carrboro High School before coaching at Page High School. He has coached collegiately at UNCG, Barton College, Averett University, and Young Harris College.
Coach Simon Thorpe
Senior Camp Counselor
Simon Thorpe is the head Track and Field/XC coach at Dixon High School in Dixon, IL. Coach Thorpe began his coaching and teaching career at DHS in 2020 after graduating from NCAA Division II powerhouse Grand Valley State University in 2018. He was a member of the GVSU Track and Field/XC program. Coach Thorpe’s self-proclaimed, claim to fame is that he was college roommates with current Hanson’s Brooks runner and 2024 American Marathon trials hero Zach Panning, and always led the first few reps in workouts before Panning dropped the hammer.
Originally from Dixon, IL, Coach Thorpe graduated from DHS in 2014 and is the current school record holder in XC, 14:54. As a coach for his alma mater, Coach Thorpe’s athletes have earned over 20 IHSA All-State medals, have broken 4 school records, and have won two IHSA state titles (800 and 4x800). Coach Thorpe believes in the power of distance running as an inclusive and empowering sport for all youth athletes.
TBD
Senior Camp Counselor
TBD
Junior Camp Counselor (College Athletes)
TBD
Guest Speakers (College Coaches, Endurance Professionals)
Mark Rennix
Head Cross Country Coach
Converse University
“Coach Logan’s coaching style is one that has been formed from years of expertise and research. His passionate approach teaches and pushes his athletes to grow as a person and vastly improve their running performance. His main objective is to get the best out of you and take you to new heights. I would highly recommend Coach Logan to anyone who has the opportunity to be under his guidance.”
—Hailey Russell, Conference Carolinas Champion and Medalist in 800m and 1500m.
“Coach Logan is a fantastic coach. With his great insights, hard workouts and caring attitude he helped elevate my running career to the next level. He took the time to explain why we did what we did and which helped me gain a better understanding of the sport and trust his training plan. Without Coach Logan, I would net be a state champion and would probably not be running at the collegiate level.”
—Jean-Lou Pare', 2021 North Carolina 3200m State Champion and multi-time all-stater. Current Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket.
“Matt [C. Logan] has helped me so much over time to improve my understanding and general knowledge of running. He always gives clear and sensible advice with reasoning backed by current scientific literature.”
—Justin Jones, DPT. Multi-Time Track & Field All-American